Q.Volvo S60 T6 test drive and review - Sweet Swede power

[QUOTE=ctarun75;n3993] How's the service back up though?[/QUOTE] Hey, thanks Tarun. Glad you liked it. Volvo does not really have that huge a service network in India. It only has some 11 service centres, covering the metros mainly. But since sales mainly happen in these cities, I don't think it's that big an issue. As far as service cost goes, I have a friend who owns a Volvo XC60. Spares / parts are almost at a par with BMW parts costs, except for things like tyres where Volvo is far cheaper.

Great article!! And I agree every bit of what you mentioned about the car. I've always felt that the S60 was under-rated and it was silently standing aside the German rivals. From you article, I feel that the car offers something very different. The dash, for instance is very unique and that makes the car very special, at least for me. Great car, great colour. How's the service back up though?

What I liked (not in order) : [LIST] [*]The seats! they almost felt like you had angels cushioning every inch of your back and what great thigh support! [*]The understated yet sporty look; I know it doesn't look very blingy but it's a neat lil package [*]The tech! [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twincharger"]a supercharged +Turbocharged engine!!![/URL] 305 HP out of a 2L engine is no mean feat! [*]Cornering lights are very very convenient [*]The pedestrian protection system is a boon for a country like India where people pop out of no where! ( I know for a fact that it works like a charm; I was tested on with it! alas [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] 's plans were foiled!) [*]The sporty rims [*]Twin chromed tips ( though it's all show, no sound :( ) [*]it's fast , for a 40L car it's quite fast! [/LIST] What I didn't like ( in no particular order): [LIST] [*]Is it me that key looks kind of ugly for a 40L car? [*]Also that central console with all the buttons doesn't look as nicely designed as a Porsche's console ( I know, I know , it's a Porsche etc but have you seen the XC90 or the S90?! clearly the Swedes are very capable) [*]The muted note of the engine ( in sport sounds like a sporty hot hatch! but hello I want my 40L car to sound special!) [*]The central display should be touchscreen! ( I honestly don't understand why OEMs don't use touchscreens; using dials to navigate is MUCH more distracting from a safety perspective) [*]WHY IS IT A FWD! [/LIST] All in all, if I had 40 odd lacs to spend on a sporty sedan, I'd just get myself a BMW 328i or the new C class ( though more the former for #DATENGINE!); the new C class is a pretty car but looks fade, the engine stays ;) I would have chosen the Volvo had it been [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_layout#Rear-wheel-drive_layouts"]RWD [/URL]or maybe even AWD with rear bias ( of course I would have spent some more on an aftermarket exhaust setup ) /Daydreaming ends BTW here are a couple of shots I managed to click [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1619[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1620[/ATTACH]

So just how does the Volvo S60 T6 stack up against the available competition? Well, for one, BMW does not have a petrol sedan in its price bracket, and hence we've picked the 320D GT Sport Line as a competitor. In the Audi garage as well there is no petrol available in the A4 range, and hence we've taken the entry-level A6 as a competitor here. Mercedes has a pretty capable rival in the form of the Mercedes C200 CGI. [B]Comparison of specifications[/B] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1497[/ATTACH] With the kind of power and torque figures that the Volvo S60 T6 has, you can clearly see that it is the most powerful among the four cars here. It also has the best torque output among these four, with a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission. However, this is a front-wheel drive, not an all-wheel drive variant like the car that was earlier sold in the Indian market - which is a bit of a downer for those looking for some fun. All that power in a front-wheel drive is not really of any great significance, besides chalking up some good 0-100 times (5.4 seconds) in a straight line like we told you. However, the steering gets fairly light and there's some fidgety torque steer. The Volvo S60 T6 is also not the biggest in terms of space - it is short on boots pace and it also has the smallest wheelbase among its competitors. Like we told you, legroom and headroom is just about enough. It's not a car to be chauffeur driven in for sure. Even boot space is much lower than the competition. Similarly, it's just slightly better than the Mercedes C200 CGI in terms of ground clearance, but not as good as the BMW GT or the Audi A6. Therefore, it's clearly a car that you would buy with your heart rather than your head. It's a car you would pick if you want outright power, just to snub those who point out "Hey, he drives a Volvo" when you take off from a traffic light. If only Volvo brings back the all-wheel drive in this car, it would then seriously mean business.

[B]Performance and handling[/B] The real thrill of the Volvo S60 T6 comes from what's under the hood. This car is equipped with a four-cylinder, 1969 cc petrol engine. Ho, hum, boring, right? What if we told you this engine comes with a turbocharger AND a supercharger! Ah ha, now we've got your attention. The two blowers help whip up phenomenal power and torque figures, while giving the driver plenty of fun behind the wheel. The Volvo S60 T6 pumps out 304 bhp of power and 400 Nm of torque. These are the kind of figures you would normally get out of a large diesel and not a petrol car. This engine puts all its power to the road through an 8-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Now, that's the sad part. The earlier T6 was an all-wheel drive, but this one is a front-wheel drive. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1338[/ATTACH] Although the car has twin exhausts the sound is fairly muted. It's only when revved hard in sport mode that you hear a raspy note from the exhausts. As the revs climb, you also hear a whine from the supercharger and turbocharger. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1339[/ATTACH] What you see in the photo above is the exhaust-driven turbocharger, which provides the second-stage of forced induction to this four-cylinder petrol engine. The punch from the turbo is not really noticeable as torque delivery is pretty linear, with barely any turbo lag. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1340[/ATTACH] The reason there's hardly any turbo lag in the Volvo S60 T6 is because of the belt-driven supercharger that is located just behind the engine and provides the first stage of forced induction to this motor. The supercharger and turbocharger combined help in developing a mammoth 400Nm of torque from this 2-litre petrol motor. Coupled with the 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifts, this car can do the 0-100 kmph dash in just 5.4 seconds, which is pretty amazing. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1341[/ATTACH] It comes with three drive modes. Elegance transforms the digital instrument cluster into an analog speedometer with the tachometer on one side and temperature on the other. This mode is mainly for city driving. The soft blue lighting lightens the mood. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1342[/ATTACH] Eco mode goes one better, with an "Eco Guide" gauge appearing to the left of the speedometer to help you drive in a manner that will save fuel. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1343[/ATTACH] But the fun mode is the "Performance" mode. The entire instrument console turns red. The speedometer becomes digital and the tachometer moves to the centre. The right hand side meter becomes a "Power" meter that shows you how much power you are extracting out of this supercharged+turbocharged engine. Also note how the fuel-efficiency gauge moves to litres per hour when the engine is idling. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1344[/ATTACH] However, having fun with this Volvo S60 T6 comes at a price. Look at the fuel efficiency figure displayed - just 5.7 kmpl, from an engine that has a claimed fuel efficiency of 15 kmpl otherwise. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1345[/ATTACH] The steering feel from the Volvo S60 can be manipulated via the settings menu to be heavy or light. The eight speed transmission can be shifted to sport mode allowing for tiptronic manual shifts either through the gear selector or the paddle shifts behind the steering wheel. Since this car is a front-wheel drive, there is a fair amount of understeer. Even with ESC (electronic stability control) switched off, it's not really possible to get the tail out like you can with a rear-wheel drive. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1346[/ATTACH] And electronic parking brakes in place of a manual handbrake are really no fun. But of course, Volvo's are meant to be safe, not thrilling. [B]Features and Convenience[/B] When it comes to convenience features, this car is loaded. Special mention should be made of its safety features though. It comes with eight airbags, traction control, ESC, ABS and of course, its special "City Safety Braking" function. I tried running over [USER="8"]I Live For Speed[/USER] (who was brave enough to volunteer being a jaywalker while the Volvo crept up towards him at about 10 kmph) but the Volvo wouldn't let me do it! The sensors fitted in the windscreen can sense pedestrians and objects ahead of the car at speeds below 50 kmph and brake the car automatically if the driver does not brake in time. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1347[/ATTACH] It's a fairly violent sensation though as the brakes apply really hard at the last moment. And a safety message appears on the instrument console saying the car was stopped using "City Safety Braking". [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1348[/ATTACH] This feature can be turned on or off using the menu in the central MID. Other safety features can be controlled via this menu as well such as traction control and active bending lights. Reduced guard turns off the intrusion alarms in the car, useful when you give it for valet parking. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1349[/ATTACH] There are a whole host of menus in the central MID that can control just about every car function from climate control to the audio settings and even Internet Access (needs to be enabled). [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1350[/ATTACH] The speedometer console also displays warnings and exact door open messages. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1351[/ATTACH] Using the left hand side stalk (the indicator stalk) one can control the various menus on the instrument console as well. These range from changing the colour of the display to service information, oil temperature, alert messages, and trip meter functions. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1352[/ATTACH] Speaking of alert messages, Volvo is really finicky about everyone in the car belting up. It's a Volvo, of course, and you have to be safe. This message lights up in the roof lamp console if all belts are not being used. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1353[/ATTACH] The S60 also gets a reverse camera along with front and rear parking sensors. The reverse camera has two views. Once looking straight behind, and the other is a zoomed in view to use when parking in tight corners. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1354[/ATTACH] Other convenience features include an electric sun roof with tilt and slide open function. Note the screen that pops up to direct air flow over the car. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1355[/ATTACH] The car gets full keyless entry with push button ignition. Note the slot to store the ignition key once you are in the vehicle. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1356[/ATTACH] The ignition key itself has an emergency key stowed in it. It has buttons to control the lock/unlock functions, follow-me home headlamps, boot opening and panic button. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1367[/ATTACH] Other small touches include a sunglass holder on roof above the driver's side door. Both the sunvisors have illuminated vanity mirrors. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1357[/ATTACH] And you get dual zone automatic climate control. The plethora of buttons on the centre console are actually pretty easy to use. I, for one, prefer the tactile feel of buttons rather than having a touchscreen, which is especially distracting while driving. These buttons control everything from Bluetooth telephony to GPS navigation and all the My Car settings of the S60. [B]What we think[/B] The Volvo S60 T6 is a car that would appeal to individuals who want to be different. Sure, it may not have as much fun-to-drive factor as a BMW GT or Mercedes C-Class, but what it lacks in agility it makes up for in brute power. Straight out of a traffic light, this car will leave its competitors as just mere objects in its rear view mirrors. It's definitely great value for money for the power it packs at its price tag. It's a sleeper - a car you can surprise people with.

The Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E is for those who want to be different. It is your typical sleeper car, that looks like a regular Volvo S60 on the outside, but packs a punch with a Turbocharged + Supercharged (yes, you read that right) four cylinder petrol engine that can do a 0-100 kmph run in just 5.4 seconds. The Drive-E is just jargon for its start-stop system to conserve fuel. The Volvo S60 T6 is the top of the line turbocharged petrol car in the Volvo S60 line up and is aimed at buyers who want performance along with the traditional values of the car – great ride quality and safety. The car will definitely turn a few heads, especially in the Rebel Blue colour that our test car had. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1320[/ATTACH] [B]What we love about the Volvo S60 T6[/B] [LIST] [*]Small engine, fantastic specifications of 306PS power and 400Nm torque, which aren’t just on paper, but truly useable with its 8-speed auto box. [*]Turbocharger plus supercharger together provide punch when needed. [*]Multiple drive modes (Eco, Elegance, Performance) and the way the instrumentation changes to match the mood. [*]Brilliant ride quality and convenience features make it practical for regular use. [*]Safety all around. We tried out “City Safety” and the car’s automatic braking at slow speeds works well. It will save a few fender benders and pedestrians. [/LIST] [B]What we don’t like about the Volvo S60 T6[/B] [LIST] [*]Not that great on interior space. Not a car to pick if legroom and headroom are priorities. It’s not a car to pick if you are looking to be chauffeured around as there’s not much to offer in the rear seat. [*]Front wheel drive only – doesn’t allow for really sporty performance despite the power unlike the rear-wheel driven Mercedes and BMW sedans at the same price point. [*]Can’t access the boot from inside – the “ski” opening between the rear seats can only be accessed from the boot. [*]Lever to open the bonnet is on the passenger’s side (left hand drive orientation). [*]No fog lamps in front. [/LIST] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1321[/ATTACH] [B]AT A GLANCE: Quick Comparison[/B] Before we go into the details of the Volvo S60 T6, let’s take a quick look at what else is available in the market at that price point. [TABLE="border: 1, cellpadding: 1, width: 500"] [TR] [TD][B]Model [/B][/TD] [TD][B]Volvo S60 T6[/B][/TD] [TD][B]Audi A6 35 TFSI[/B][/TD] [TD][B]Mercedes C200 CGI[/B][/TD] [TD][B]BMW GT 320D Sportline (Diesel only) [/B][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Price[/TD] [TD]Rs. 42 lakh[/TD] [TD]Rs. 45.9 lakh[/TD] [TD]Rs. 41.7 lakh[/TD] [TD]Rs. 39.9 lakh[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Engine[/TD] [TD]1969 cc turbo+supercharged petrol[/TD] [TD][FONT=Arial]1798 cc turbocharged-petrol [/FONT][/TD] [TD]1991 cc supercharged petrol[/TD] [TD]1995 cc diesel[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Power[/TD] [TD]304 bhp[/TD] [TD]187 bhp[/TD] [TD]184 bhp[/TD] [TD]184 bhp[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Torque[/TD] [TD]400 Nm[/TD] [TD]320 Nm[/TD] [TD]300 Nm[/TD] [TD]380 Nm[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [FONT=Arial]Volvo really knows how to price its vehicles despite being a CBU (completely built unit) import. Look at the table and you’ll figure that Volvo offers substantially more bang for the buck compared to the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A6. BMW currently does not have a petrol offering in that price bracket (the 330i was discontinued), but even then the Volvo S60 T6 has more power and torque to offer than a similarly sized diesel.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1322[/ATTACH][/FONT] [B]Design and styling[/B] Now, Volvo’s design may not really appeal to all. It is slightly conservative compared to the Mercedes C-Class and even the Audi. Yet, it has enough flair to stand out in the crowd. The bonnet has subtle muscular lines in its clam shell design which give the car a slightly aggressive look. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1323[/ATTACH] The daytime running lamps are just two thin strips in the bumper. The headlamps are twin beam units with projectors with HIDs for the low beam and halogens for the high beam. These are adaptive headlamps which turn with the steering, therefore eliminating the need for cornering lamps. Note the twin headlamp washer units in the bumper. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1324[/ATTACH] The grille is unmistakable for anything else but a Volvo. Large and aggressive, it carries the family look. Note the front parking sensors that are placed in the lower air dam. These act in conjunction with the sensors in the windshield to provide parking assist and city safety braking (more on that in a bit). Ground clearance though is a measly 136 mm - one really needs to be careful over large speed breakers and parking ramps, as the approach angle too is too low because of the large bumper. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1325[/ATTACH] Viewed in profile the Volvo S60 T6 has a sporty flair to it with a swept back, notch-back like design. The short boot blends into the C-pillar. Note the use of chrome to highlight the windowline. The car has a fairly high shoulder, which is also a part of its safety element as much as it is part of the design. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1326[/ATTACH] The car comes shod with Continental 235/40 R18 tyres on seven-spoke 18-inch alloys that fill up the wheel wells. These are performance oriented tyres that seem like they will wear pretty fast, considering our test car had just under 6,000 km on the odometer. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1327[/ATTACH] When you look at the Volvo S60 T6 from the rear, you realize this car has something special about it. The pan-pipe twin exhausts really add character to the rear. We especially like the way the boomerang shaped tail-lamps wrap on to the boot lid. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1328[/ATTACH] The T6 badge on the bootlid gives away what's under the hood. Without that it's pretty hard to differentiate the car from the diesel S60. The tail-lamps have LEDs for the brake and tail-functions and bulbs for rear fog lamp and reverse lamps. The reverse camera is placed right next to the number plate light. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1329[/ATTACH] The car has a subtle spoiler on the bootlid which gives it a sporty character. One can see how much the rear fenders flare out of the body line as well. The small shark fin antenna on the roof is quite similar to BMW's design. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1330[/ATTACH] While the car comes with alloys for the other four wheels, the spare is a 17-inch skinny space saver tyre for emergency use only. One would be better off carrying an air compressor and puncture repair kit on board rather than having to use this. [B]Interiors and space[/B] Passenger space is fairly decent for four adults in the Volvo S60 T6 and there's some handy storage spaces on offer, but boot space is not really great when compared to the Mercedes, Audi or BMW sedans at that price point. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1331[/ATTACH] Not only is the boot opening fairly small, the total capacity of the boot is only about 340 litres, which is nearly 130 litres less than a Mercedes C-Class. Added to that is the high loading lip, which would mean you will have to haul suitcases over the bumper and wedge them in at an angle. But do note the Volvo touches of recessed hinges and a space for the warning triangle on the boot lid. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1332[/ATTACH] The rear seats have a 60:40 split fold arrangement, but don't fold fully flat. The "ski" opening to store long objects in the boot can only be accessed from the boot area and not from inside the car. In other cars this is a convenient opening to reach for stuff in the boot when on the move. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1333[/ATTACH] Rear seat space is fairly decent with good all round support for four passengers. The middle passenger though would have a bit of a problem with legroom because of the high transmission tunnel. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1334[/ATTACH] Recline angle and underthigh support are pretty good too. Note the space around [USER="8"]I Live For Speed[/USER] a 5-foot 8-inch passenger. Taller passengers would probably have an issue with headroom at the rear because of the sloping roof line. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1335[/ATTACH] The front seats are the best seats in this car. They are supremely comfortable, with good under thigh and lumbar support. The driver's seat has 10-way electrical adjustments with three memory settings. The passenger seat too is four-way power adjustable. You get a sense of security just sinking into these seats. There are plenty of cubby holes for storage including two cupholders in the centre console, a small storage box under the centre arm rest, and door pockets big enough for 1-litre water bottles. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1336[/ATTACH] The rear seat too gets a drop down arm rest with two cup holders and a small box to store knick knacks. All three passengers get three-point seat belts. [B]Features | Performance and Handling in next post...[/B]